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TX - Jennifer Harris, 28, Bonham, 12 May 2002

Jennifer Harris-Holman was last seen alive on Mother's Day in 2002 when she was leaving her grandmother's house to meet up with a friend. She was supposed to return later that night and when she didn't, her family called the police. Her car was found abandoned at Lake Bonham and six days later, her naked body was found floating in the Red River. An exact cause of death has never been established but it was "violent and unnatural" & her uterus had somehow been removed. Throughout the years, there have been a few persons of interests but no arrests have been made. Her family believes it was someone she trusted and knew, possibly the same individual who she was meeting that same night. They are trying to get more exposure for Jennifer's case as they feel LE has not been the most reliable in trying to solve this case.

The TNT Show "Cold Justice" indicated it wanted to investigate Harris' death, but the Fannin County sheriff initially refused to give them access to the case file -- and evidence -- but has now agreed to meet with them towards the end of July.

Throughout the years we have sought assistance from other investigators, to include Texas Rangers, FBI, and the Texas Attorney General’s Office. Even private investigators and cold case units were given access to the case file information, in the hope that we could find out what happened to Jennifer.

We have gone to other states with Rangers to interview people who could possibly have information. Fannin County Sheriff’s Office has worked diligently toward finding the answers regarding the death of Jennifer Harris and will continue to do so.

Regardless of what people keep posting, I have had numerous telephone conversations with the Supervising Producer for the television show, “Cold Justice.” I have had conversations with the Senior Producer for the show and emails to show that I tried to meet with them.

That was at the first week of August. Since then I have received no calls from their producers. I am not refusing to meet with the show, as is alleged, even though there is a written Attorney General’s Opinion stating that the information regarding the case should not be public information.

I have been accused of being “heartless.” I helped pull Jennifer from the water that day. Aside from her family, there is probably nobody who wants “Justice for Jennifer” more than I do. I just choose to not make the tragic death of a young lady a political tool as some are doing. “Justice for Jennifer” is more than a catchy slogan to me.

Six agonizing days passed before a fisherman discovered Harris's body floating in the Red River. If that wasn't horrific enough, the medical examiner discovered that her uterus was missing.

"If she was pregnant the killer murdered two people instead of one. It's very sickening," said her father, Jerry Harris.

Jennifer Harris was possibly strangled, officials determined, and her death was ruled "violent and unnatural."

Over the years there have been many theories and questions raised. Were her organs intentionally removed, or was it the result of freshwater life? There was no way to prove either, because her body was so badly decomposed.

What about the evidence? Her father says shortly after her murder, a person of interest was named by the Texas Rangers, but most of the evidence went missing from the Fannin County Sheriff's Office shortly thereafter.

"Lost evidence, lost her car keys, lost her clothes, lost her laptop computer, haven't followed up on DNA evidence," Jerry Harris said.

But all hope isn't lost now. Jennifer Harris's family says the case is in the hands of a new sheriff, who's helping them raise awareness through social media.

"There's somebody that knows what happened," Schneider said. "I do not think this was a one-man deal. I think there was somebody who assisted in it and somebody knows."

Jennifer Harris was 28 and at a crossroads as Mother’s Day approached in 2002. Some say the Bonham resident thought — perhaps hoped or maybe worried — she might soon be a mother herself.

Her father, Jerry Harris, has said in countless interviews that she was trying to start her life over.

But fate wouldn’t give Jennifer Harris that chance. On May 12, 2002, she left a group of friends after telling them she was going to meet someone. She got in her green, 2000 Jeep Wrangler and drove away, never to be seen alive again, at least by anyone who will talk about it.

Where did she go, who did she meet, what did they discuss, and what happened to her during that meeting are questions that have fascinated — and maybe tormented — two counties, at least four sheriffs, and countless other law enforcement officers for a decade and a half.

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Last edited by Harmony 2; 05-15-2017 at 09:00 AM.
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Former Sheriff Kenneth Moore said the case he inherited from his predecessor in 2005 was long on interviews and paperwork but short on concrete evidence.

“I mean you got a body in the river and you have to go from there,” he said.

Kenneth Moore said generally law enforcement wants to hold something back to be able to test anything someone tells them about the case. It seemed like there was an awful lot of information about the Jennifer Harris case out there though. If someone does come forward now, Kenneth Moore said, law enforcement is going to need something to test any statements with and he is not sure what is left for that.

The next new sheriff, Donnie Foster, was an old hand at the FCSO, having been Kenneth Moore’s chief deputy.

“I inherited a mess when I took over,” Foster said recently. “There was not much in the way of evidence to it. Anything and everything was all thrown in together and that is the way that it was when I got it.”

Current Fannin County District Attorney Richard Glaser also said the case is in terrible shape. Over the years since he was elected, Glaser has given the Sheriff’s Office money to help investigate the case. Glaser said the case is in such bad shape now, with missing evidence and other evidence that people question, he would have to look really hard at it before even presenting it to a grand jury.

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Last edited by Harmony 2; 05-15-2017 at 09:04 AM.
Reason: snipped to comply with copyright rule